Theme park planned for Bangkok’s IMPACT conference centre

A new theme park and marina complex are among the major developments being planned at IMPACT, Thailand’s largest conference and exhibition centre.

The operators of the facility, which is located in the Muang Thong Thani area of north Bangkok, this week revealed plans to spend more than THB3.5 billion (US$96 million) on a series of “mega projects”. These will include a new theme park, marina, entertainment venues and hotels.

“In the near future, we are going to see some of the biggest investments in mega projects in IMPACT’s history, including a THB200 million theme park sitting along the shore of the lake,” said Paul Kanjanapas, managing director of IMPACT Exhibition Management.

“Business travellers bringing children onboard attending a conference at our venue can leave their kids at the theme park while they are in a meeting. With our one-stop entertainment complex coupled with other state-of-the art facilities and amenities nearby the exhibition centre, the family would end up staying longer and that is exactly what we are looking for,” he added.

The theme park is being developed by the Sanderson Group, an Australian company which has previously worked on the Disney Seas park in Tokyo and Universal Studios Singapore. The new Bangkok attraction is expected to be completed by late 2017 or early 2018.

In addition to the theme park, IMPACT is planning to develop a new lakeside marina complex, which will feature a cinema, restaurants and retail outlets. The existing Eastin Lakeside Hotel will also undergo a major renovation, turning it into “the most luxury five-star hotel in Muang Thong Thani”, according to IMPACT.

Also due to open later this year is the 587-room ibis Bangkok IMPACT hotel, which will be operated by AccorHotels alongside the existing Novotel IMPACT Bangkok.

“I also plan to develop more hotels in the venue in case the Novotel Bangkok IMPACT and ibis are completely booked up,” Kanjanapas added.

Other soon-to-be-open projects include a five-storey mall comprising shops and restaurants, plus 12 badminton courts and a swimming pool at the IMPACT Sports Complex.